The UN on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to continue to develop channels of communication and cooperation to resume the stagnated peace negotiations.

The channels have facilitated the evacuation of civilians and wounded soldiers from Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

Martin Griffiths, under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the UN, said that the evacuation operations have created better conditions for the broader negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine.

He added that the evacuation operations could not take place without the coordination between Russia and the Ukrainian authorities.

According to Griffiths, the fact that the two sides are cooperating relatively well, specifically much better than in previous weeks, is the basis for conducting further negotiations.

He also called for the resumption of the stalled talks hosted by Turkey, adding parties involved need to return to the negotiating table.

Source: VOV5